6 features Id like to see in a new batch of Kindles

The new iPhone Duo has me thinking about what I would want to see in a new Kindle e-reader. It took years, but we finally got a foldable iPhone. So what’s the ultimate feature I’d want to see in a Kindle? There are quite a few. While Apple drops new iPhones every year, Amazon takes its time — we don’t know when Amazon will drop a new batch of Kindles.

The last time we got a fully revamped lineup of Kindles was 2024, so we’re two years into this batch of devices. Since then, Amazon has launched a color e-reader and a redesigned Scribe. I’d say it’s about time the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite got a revamp.

Whether it’s adding new features to a Kindle e-reader or bringing back an older model, these are the features I’d like to see in a new Kindle.

Page-turning buttons

I feel confident that BookTok and I would want to see one feature brought back to Kindles: page-turning buttons. The last Kindle e-reader to have buttons was the Kindle Oasis, which was unfortunately discontinued in 2024. When the Oasis was discontinued, Amazon told The Verge that it has no plans to make devices with buttons moving forward. But that doesn’t mean the public isn’t still hungry for page-turning buttons.

I’ve spent plenty of time in Reddit threads of users lamenting the loss of old Kindle models with buttons. Plus, the Kobo Libra Colour, one of the few e-readers with buttons, is extremely popular. BookTok also has the Boox Go 7 on the come-up with its open Android system and page-turning buttons.

Although it’s unlikely, Amazon would make a lot of people happy by bringing back the Oasis or adding page-turning buttons to the Paperwhite.

Kindle remote

Last year, Kobo got a leg up on Kindle by launching a remote. The Kobo Remote connects to Kobo e-readers via Bluetooth and turns pages forward and back. While Amazon has yet to launch its own remote for Kindle e-readers (the Kobo remote is not compatible with Kindles), there are plenty of page-turning remotes being sold on Amazon. But the downside is that they require a clip-on piece that taps the screen for you. If Amazon finally launches a Bluetooth remote for its Kindle e-readers, I personally will be first in line to buy one.

Moving the power button

I think Kindles are nearly perfect e-readers, but I have one major pet peeve: the placement of the power button. The power button is on the bottom of the device, which makes it too easy to accidentally press, especially if you read it propped up. When I bring my Kindle to the gym to read on a treadmill or elliptical, the power button can easily get bumped and turned off.

If I could make one small request to Amazon, please move the power button to the top or the side of the Kindle.

A smaller model with handwriting capabilities

Amazon has the Kindle Scribe, its largest e-reader, which also has handwriting capabilities. It’s great, but more notebook-sized than book-sized. Lots of competitors like Kobo and Boox have 7-inch e-readers with handwriting capabilities, and I’m curious to see if Amazon would launch one of its own, whether that’s a smaller Kindle Scribe or handwriting support to the Kindle Paperwhite.

Tiny Kindle

People are going wild for tiny e-readers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Amazon jumped on the trend and made a small e-reader of its own. It’s not a crowded market as Xteink is really the only brand making tiny e-readers, although the Boox Picco is reportedly coming soon. However, Xteink e-readers can’t access your Kindle library, so Amazon could meet demand by delivering a mini e-reader with access to Kindle books.

Open Android Kindle

While I don’t think it will happen, Kindle could go out on a major limb and create an e-reader with an open Android system. This would be like Boox’s e-readers, which run on Android and have access to the Google Play Store. That would mean a Kindle that allows you to download any reading (or non-reading) app you want. However, this is the least likely possibility as Amazon’s Fire tablets don’t even have access to the Google Play Store.

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